Army's proposal to cancel Chinook program is bad for military and for Iowa

No one is more committed to our troops than the state of Iowa. We raise them, we feed them and we are proud to see the men and women of Iowa serve in uniform. Iowa workers also help build state-of-the-art military helicopters that fly American soldiers into battle and ensure they have the ammunition and equipment they need to accomplish their mission as safely as possible.

More than 1,000 workers at Iowa aerospace companies build critical components for the Army’s H-47 Chinook helicopter. This tandem-rotor helicopter is the military’s primary heavy-lift workhorse. Different versions of it have been in use since the 1960s, but the modern Chinook is the fastest, strongest and safest helicopter in the Army’s fleet. It’s a heavy-lifter for Iowa too – pumping nearly $65 million into our state’s economy.

Workers at Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids build the Common Avionics Architecture System. CAAS is a combat-proven system that combines multiple information channels to provide Army pilots with a complete picture of the battlefield. On top of that, foundry workers in Creston develop some of the specialized high-grade castings the Chinook needs to operate with safety, lift and speed.

Together, these components ensure American soldiers get the equipment and ammunition they need, when they need it. More than that, thanks to Iowa workers, the Army’s Chinook helicopter is safer, faster and more capable than ever. 

Iowans can see these amazing helicopters stationed in our backyard at Camp Dodge near Des Moines. Two of these helicopters, along with local National Guard personnel, deployed to support recovery efforts around Houston, Texas, in the wake of Hurricane Harvey in 2017. 

The helicopter is currently in the second year of a 20-year commitment of a major upgrade by the U.S. Army. The Chinook Block II would increase its heavy-lift capability by more than 1,500 pounds, enabling our troops to arrive in combat zones with a fully armed Joint Light Tactical Vehicle or Howitzer, even at higher elevations. Simply put, it will keep more American soldiers alive in battle than before. 

That’s a legacy we can be proud of, but also one that is on the line. The Army proposed delaying this upgrade and possibly canceling the entire Chinook program. Now, the safety and security of American soldiers and jobs in Iowa are on the line if Congress doesn’t get this fixed. This is after the Chinook Block II just took its first flight on budget and ahead of schedule.

Thankfully, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Ia.) has the ability to pump the brakes on the Army’s plan. She sits on the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, which reviews and approves all military proposals like this one. And she knows the capability and commitment of Iowa’s National Guard troops and equipment, having served for 23 years, many right here at Camp Dodge. 

Sen. Ernst has been a proud and committed supporter of Iowa values and priorities since she was elected in 2014. We ask Iowans to contact Sen. Ernst to thank her for her past support and to urge her to save Iowa jobs by lending her strong support to this program. We need her to block the Army’s plan and keep Iowans working to deliver these critical components to American soldiers. 

Mike Ralston is president of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI).